Archive for February, 2010

Yep, it happened again, I fell in love. Not with my wife or another woman, but with a hop-head beer I’ve never tasted before. It all started two weekends ago when my wife planned a trip to visit my old stomping grounds, Sonoma county. It was my birthday weekend celebration and she was taking to 4 breweries in Sonoma; Lagunitas Tap Room, Russian River Brewery, Bear Republic Brewery, and 3rd Street Ale Works. All four breweries had outstanding beers, the Russian River Pliny the Elder was a close second, which even beat out Bear Republic’s Racer 5 IPA, but the one that stood out the most and now has my heart, is Lagunitas Hop Stoopid Ale.

The Hop Stoopid ale has everything a hop-head wants, and I guess I’m now an official hop-head. The beer pours a brilliantly clear amber gold with a cap of fluffy off white head about a half finger high. Tons of lively carbonation bubbles rise out of the bottom of the glass and serve to maintain the head for an extremely long time. When you sit it, it is firmly bitter with lots of hop flavor up front. Pineapple, apricots, and roses are the dominant flavors in this heavenly delight. I can taste some grapefruit and some tropical flavors which make a strong round flavor. It has a nice, slightly sweet, caramel malt backbone. The alcohol flavors are not overpowering, but certainly contribute to the overall flavors. It’s loaded with citrus goodness and tons of grapefruit, all around.

In addition, this beer has a good amount of pine and rounded out pineapple favors. Just a little bit of malt shows through with a touch of sweet, in a sugary way, and the faintest bit of caramel. The carbonation is ample, filling my mouth with prickly bubbles and a slight foamy feeling. The alcohol is on the high side and is really sensation-able, but it tastes so good. Every time I finish a glass, I’m always looking for more. I truly love this beer. With 102 I.B.U., I could be drinking this with every meal.